Wetherspoon's latest news
By susanhubbard | Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 17:41
JD Wetherspoon has now submitted a planning application for converting the Oxford bingo hall into a pub.
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Oxford Bingo Hall - Wetherspoons is applying to convert it into a pub.
The application seeks permission for change of use from bingo club to public house, and comments are invited from Canterbury City Council by 10th December.
As reported already on this site, Wetherspoon's has also submitted a licensing application to the city council, which includes requests to show films seven days of the week, provide late night refreshments, and sell or supply alcohol until midnight Sunday - Wednesday, and until 1am on Thurs, Fri and Sat. The final day for objections to the application was 9th November.
The building was formerly the Oxford Picture Hall, which was rebuilt on the site in its current art deco style in 1936. It closed in October 1984.
The current application to show films has some support in the town among people who would like to see a local cinema functioning again (see comments on our earlier story). However, Wetherspoon's exact plans are not yet clear, and there is also feeling that Whitstable does not want a 'chain' pub.
There are three more meetings of the council's licensing sub-committee before the end of the year. The agenda for the next meeting, on 23 November, has been published on the council website and does not obviously include the Wetherspoon's application.
What do you think?
Comments
Presumably, with a license, they should be able to show films. But even if they could be persuaded to show films, I think it'd probably be a poor cinematic experience.
By Jen_Beard at 02:46 on 02/12/10
ReportWetherspoon's are NOT PLANNING TO SHOW FILMS. This is an application they make on every new licence, it's so they can show non-live pre-recorded promotional adverts on plasma screens within the pub.
A call to JDW headquarters would have clarified that - instead, people have false hope of the Bubble once more having a cinema.
Although that may change in the new year.
By TheNative at 16:20 on 24/11/10
ReportInteresting point re: Google Street View! Though in terms of planning use, both El Loco and Saltmarsh are the same class. Would have been intriguing if El Loco had become a different class of unit and the Wetherspoons people hadn't picked up on it!
By N_Baker at 15:10 on 17/11/10
ReportI think the article is only reporting what some people feel in Whitstable and not an opinion with regard to the "chain pub" comments from ohrockyrocky!! Still, nice to know that people care enough to comment I suppose!
By Wyncanton at 08:56 on 17/11/10
ReportHaving scanned the planning docs, it looks like JD Wetherspoon's agents (KD Paine) do their planning via Google Streetview. Now, this IS a story, if true, because it shows that they haven't even bothered to visit the site.
The planning statement (see p4 here http://tinyurl.com/38cxe9f) refers to a nearby Mexican restaurant. This refers to El Loco, which I happen to know now only exists in Streetview from one angle (see here http://tinyurl.com/2vgksza).
It's been Saltmarsh for quite some time in the real world!
By ohrockyrocky at 20:43 on 16/11/10
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